諺語 · a single proverb
門前冷落
Simplified: 门前冷落
What does 門前冷落 (mén qián lěng luò) mean?
門前冷落 (mén qián lěng luò) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "the area before the gate is deserted and cold." In use it means: Falling from popularity or power; a once-busy doorstep now sees no visitors. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Goat.
Literally: "the area before the gate is deserted and cold."
The reading
The gate that was crowded yesterday is empty today. The visitors did not disappear. They moved to the gate that is winning this season. Popularity is a rental, not a purchase. The person who builds their sense of worth on the crowd at their door will feel cold every time the crowd wanders to the next attraction. Build the warmth inside.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Bai Juyi 白居易, Pipa Xing 琵琶行
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 門前冷落 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 門前冷落 (mén qián lěng luò) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Bai Juyi 白居易, Pipa Xing 琵琶行. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 門前冷落?
In Mandarin it is mén qián lěng luò. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 門前冷落 aloud in Mandarin.